Donnie Wahlberg plays the villain to Kevin James’ happy-go-lucky hero in this month’s Zookeeper. But even better than playing a baddie was getting to film in Boston, the 41-year-old’s hometown. “I go to Boston every single chance I get,” says Wahlberg, who still owns a house in the area. “I know the air, I know the feel. It’s just home.”

Wahlberg — who last month played a show in Boston’s historic Fenway Park with his boy-band supergroup, NKOTBSB — took a break from filming his hit CBS show, Blue Bloods, to share his favorite Beantown haunts.

The Eliot Hotelwww.eliothotel.com“It’s on one of the more beautiful streets in Boston, nestled in a little row of brownstones. It makes you feel like you’re part of the city, not a guest.”

Alma Novewww.almanovehingham.com“My brother Paul is the chef. It’s a lot of old recipes he learned from my mother and added his own touch to, so to me, it tastes like home.”

Nebowww.nebopizzeria.com“I love the gnocchi with zucchini and sausage. And they have a sweet-corn-and-sausage pizza that’s like nothing you’ve ever tasted. They even have a pizza named after me, but you’ve got to go there to see what’s on it.”

Franklin Park Zoowww.zoonewengland.org“It’s a true inner-city zoo. You go from traffic-riddled streets to this serene, green leafy space filled with animals. I always like visiting the gorillas and the lions.”